Janes Blog

Tuesday, July 23, 2013

Photos | MTV Buzzworthy Blog: Celebrities In Ridiculously Cheesy Halloween Costumes

MTV Buzzworthy Blog: Celebrities In Ridiculously Cheesy Halloween Costumes

Hilary Swank Isla Fisher Ivana Bozilovic

Michael Jackson Immortal Tour: How They Uphold The Legacy

MTV News gets a behind-the-scenes look at the Cirque Du Soleil tribute to the King of Pop.
By Uptin Saiidi

NEWARK — Since its opening, <a href="/news/articles/1682347/michael-jackson-immortal-cirque.jhtml">Michael Jackson: The Immortal World Tour</a> by Cirque Du Soleil has honored the King of Pop through music, dance and acrobatics 117 times. Night after night, artists celebrate the life of the late Michael Jackson, but how do they take his iconic legacy and put it into a production? When the tour came to New York City this week, MTV News went behind the scenes to talk with the creative forces and performers to find out.The artists (all 65 of them) had limited time to train and learn choreography -- an especially difficult feat when it's honoring MJ's signature moves. It was a kind of pressure that creative director Tara Young certainly learned to channel into a positive force.<CENTER><embed src="http://media.mtvnservices.com/mgid:uma:video:mtv.com:755805/cp~vid%3D755805%26uri%3Dmgid%3Auma%3Avideo%3Amtv.com%3A755805" width="430" height="242" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" allowFullScreen="true" allowScriptAccess="always" base="."></embed></CENTER>"I think it is a pressure for sure; something I share with the whole building here is that we have nothing to prove, only to share," Young told MTV News. "We have an opportunity to share what Michael would have wanted to share and the pressure is only there to achieve excellence."For Felix Cane, a two-time world champion pole dancer who does a captivating performance to "Danger," it was all about using that pressure to help the audience to remember the pop icon. "You are sharing this passion with them, and this love of MJ. There's times in the show when some people and I, myself, might have shed a few tears."That pressure never felt as great as when the Jackson family sat in the front row at a show in Montreal, an experience Young described as "inspiring." When asked what MJ would think if he were sitting there with them, Young smiled, "He would feel such a sense of pride of what he has given us to work with. It evokes emotions in people that they didn't even know were going to come out."I think everyone feels inspired, which evokes a certain feeling of change," Young added. "You feel a sadness too because he is not with us anymore, and that is an emotion that is wonderful too actually ... just to honor him."The tour will continue in North America through the summer, before heading to Europe this fall.Have you seen Michael Jackson: The Immortal World Tour? What did you think? Leave your comment below!<center><a href="http://www.mtv.com/photos/?fid=1617615"><img src="http://www.mtv.com/news/photos/s/spotted/banner/spotted.jpg"></a></center>

Related Artists

Michael Jackson

Source:
http://www.mtv.com/news/articles/1682612/michael-jackson-immortal-world-tour.jhtml

Erika Christensen Estella Warren

Mary J. Blige Dishes On Her 'Crazy' Led Zeppelin Covers

'I've listened to their music since I was a child,' says the R&B diva, who recorded 'Stairway to Heaven' and 'Whole Lotta Love.'
By James Montgomery, with reporting by Larry Carroll

You wouldn't peg Mary J Blige as the black-light-and-tapestry sort, but, as has become readily apparent in recent weeks, she absolutely loves Led Zeppelin.In early February, reports began circulating that <a href="/news/articles/1631297/mary-j-blige-records-led-zeppelins-stairway-heaven.jhtml">Blige had re-recorded Zeppelin's classic "Stairway to Heaven,"</a> working with Travis Barker, "American Idol" judge Randy Jackson and guitarist Steve Vai on the track, which is slated to appear on the international reissue of her Stronger With Each Tear album, due Monday.<div style="margin: 0px 10px 10px 0px; float:left;"><embed src="http://media.mtvnservices.com/mgid:uma:video:mtv.com:491065" width="256" height="223" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" flashVars="configParams=instance%3Dnews%26vid%3D491065" allowFullScreen="true" wmode="transparent" allowScriptAccess="always" base="."></embed></div>But after she had recorded "Stairway," Blige continued to get the Led out, covering another Zeppelin classic — the thunderous "Whole Lotta Love" — for the album too. And when MTV News caught up with her on the Essence Black Women in Hollywood red carpet, she told us all about channeling her inner Robert Plant for the tracks, a process that came much easier than you'd probably imagine."I did Led Zeppelin's 'Stairway to Heaven' and 'Whole Lotta Love' — it's crazy," she said. "I am a Led Zeppelin fan. I'm not going to say I've been to their concerts, but I've listened to their music since I was a child, and it's always moved me, especially 'Stairway to Heaven,' and 'Whole Lotta Love' is just fun."Blige also said she recorded another new song — a "club record" called "I Can't Wait" — for the re-release. And while it's only slated to hit shelves outside the U.S., she hopes her fans will get a chance to hear all the new songs pretty soon."I want y'all to hear it," she laughed.

Jessica Paré Jessica Simpson Zooey Deschanel

'Catching Fire' Star Jena Malone Douses Inhibitions For Johanna Role

'I could just be crazy,' actress told MTV News of finding her character in 'Hunger Games' sequel.
By Amy Wilkinson, with reporting by Josh Horowitz

Source:
http://www.mtv.com/news/articles/1711024/catching-fire-comic-con-jena-malone-johanna.jhtml

Gina Carano Gina Gershon Gina Philips

Usher's Stepson Kile Glover Laid To Rest In Atlanta

Family and friends gathered at the Wieuca Road Baptist Church for 11-year-old's funeral service Friday (July 27).
By Rob Markman, with reporting by FLX

Family and friends gathered privately in Atlanta on Friday (July 27) to lay to rest young Kile Glover, <a href="http://www.mtv.com/music/artist/usher/artist.jhtml">Usher Raymond</a>'s 11-year old stepson, who died from injuries suffered in a tragic <a href="/news/articles/1689206/ushers-stepson-declared-brain-dead-after-jet-ski-accident.jhtml">Jet Ski accident</a> earlier this month.Glover was the son of Usher's ex-wife, Tameka Foster, and Atlanta TV executive Ryan Glover. He was struck by a Jet Ski while floating in an inner tube on Atlanta's Lake Lanier on July 6.There was no fanfare outside the Wieuca Road Baptist Church on Peachtree Road where the funeral was held, but inside, the Glover, Foster and Raymond families received tremendous amounts of support from many esteemed members of Atlanta's music and political communities. Ludacris, Jazze Pha and Phaedra Parks from "The Real Housewives of Atlanta" were just some of the celebrities in attendance. The hour-long service began at 11 a.m.<div class="player-placeholder right" title="Usher's Stepson Kile Glover Is Laid To Rest" id="vid:819972" width="415" height="255"></div>Young Kile was airlifted to Children's Healthcare of Atlanta, where doctors subsequently pronounced him brain-dead. "We know God's in control, and are leaning on our faith in Him and His word at this most difficult time," the family told CNN in a statement. "We firmly believe in the power of prayer and ask that you all continue to pray and lift Kile up, as it's the best way we can all support him now."Glover passed away on July 21 after being removed from <a href="/news/articles/1690157/usher-stepson-kile-glover-taken-off-life-support.jhtml">life support</a>.Atlanta radio personality and Cash Money record artist DJ Greg Street sent out a tweet immediately after hearing the news of Glover's death, expressing his support for the family. "Lil RG is an Angel now, Ryan, Tameka, Usher & the whole Glover Family we gotta make him proud," he wrote.The man driving the Jet Ski has been identified as 38-year-old Jeffrey S. Hubbard, a friend of the family. Police have determined that no drugs were involved in the accident, and Hubbard has not been charged with a crime. No word on whether or not he attended the funeral.Leave your condolences for the Foster, Glover and Raymond families in the comments below.

Related Artists